EDIH West Ukraine: building a regional innovation ecosystem

West Ukraine EDIH is a three-year project funded by the European Union under the Digital Europe Programme and part of the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) Network. The project brings together leading innovation organisations, universities, consulting companies, business support organisations and technology experts to help businesses, startups and public sector organisations adopt advanced digital technologies and strengthen their competitiveness.

As one of the European Digital Innovation Hubs operating in Ukraine, West Ukraine EDIH supports organisations across Western Ukraine in accelerating their digital and green transformation while fostering closer integration with the European innovation ecosystem and value chains. The initiative contributes to the objectives of the Digital Europe Programme by strengthening regional innovation capacity, supporting economic growth and enabling wider adoption of technologies such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, Internet of Things (IoT) and additive manufacturing.

The project focuses on strategic sectors, including healthcare, agri-food and food processing, smart cities and communities, and dual-use technologies.

Digital transformation requires much more than access to technology. Organisations also need expert guidance, practical experience, funding opportunities and strong partnerships to successfully implement innovation.

West Ukraine EDIH was established to address these challenges by creating a comprehensive support ecosystem for businesses, startups and public sector organisations across Western Ukraine. The project aims to accelerate the adoption of advanced digital technologies while strengthening regional innovation capacity and fostering closer integration with European innovation ecosystems and value chains.

West Ukraine EDIH addresses these challenges through four integrated groups of services:

• Test Before Invest: digital maturity assessments, technology audits, expert consultations and access to laboratories where organisations can test and validate innovative solutions before making investment decisions.
• Skills and Training: workshops, bootcamps, hackathons, pre-acceleration programmes, mentoring and individual consultations designed to strengthen advanced digital skills and innovation capabilities.
• Access to Funding: support in identifying funding opportunities, developing investment strategies, preparing competitive applications and connecting organisations with investors and development programmes.
• Ecosystem Building: innovation events, AI forums, international workshops, networking activities and matchmaking services connecting businesses, public institutions, researchers, investors and technology providers across Ukraine and Europe.

West Ukraine EDIH is implemented by a consortium of 8 partners: Scientific Park of Lviv Polytechnic National University, Civitta, Lviv Polytechnic National University (Faculty of Artificial Intelligence), City Institute Lviv, IRON Cluster, West Ukraine Digital, Agency of European Innovations, and EasyBusiness, together with the associated partner Tech StartUp School.

Within the consortium, Civitta leads two of the project’s core work packages: Access to Funding and Ecosystem Building & Networking.

• Through the Access to Funding work package, Civitta builds on its proven track record in helping organisations secure EU funding and investment for innovation: helping businesses and public sector organisations identify suitable funding opportunities, develop tailored financing strategies, prepare competitive grant applications and connect with investors and international development programmes. The objective is not only to increase access to finance but also to strengthen organisations’ long-term capacity to fund innovation and digital transformation.
• As lead partner for Ecosystem Building & Networking, Civitta leverages one of the largest innovation and consulting networks in Central and Eastern Europe – with more than 30 offices across 20+ countries and extensive partnerships spanning businesses, research institutions, investors, public authorities and innovation ecosystems. The team brings first-hand experience in building cross-border innovation networks and connecting regional innovation ecosystems with European partners. Within West Ukraine EDIH, Civitta strengthens collaboration between businesses, technology providers, universities, research institutions, investors and public authorities by organising networking events, facilitating matchmaking activities, supporting international partnerships and creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and technology transfer.

In 2026 alone, Civitta supported 10 companies in securing €5 million in highly competitive European Innovation Council (EIC) grants, guiding them through the entire funding journey: from identifying the right funding instrument and shaping project concepts to developing compelling proposals and preparing projects for evaluation.

By combining innovation consulting, business development and investment advisory, Civitta helps transform project services into practical opportunities that generate measurable impact for organisations, ensuring businesses and public institutions can easily access the expertise, infrastructure and support available through the hub.

As a three-year initiative launched in 2026, West Ukraine EDIH is currently implementing its activities across Western Ukraine. The project is expected to strengthen regional innovation capacity by increasing organisations’ access to advanced digital technologies, testing infrastructure, funding opportunities, international partnerships and innovation support services. By connecting businesses, public institutions, researchers, investors and technology providers, West Ukraine EDIH contributes to building a stronger regional innovation ecosystem while supporting Ukraine’s long-term integration into the European digital and innovation landscape.

1. Digital transformation succeeds when the whole ecosystem is in place: access to technology alone is not enough, organisations need expertise, funding, infrastructure and partnerships working together.
2. Regional ecosystems can drive national competitiveness: West Ukraine EDIH demonstrates how collaborative, multi-stakeholder models can strengthen innovation capacity and accelerate digital transformation across strategic sectors.
3. Combining funding expertise with network reach creates real impact: Civitta’s role across both the Access to Funding and Ecosystem Building work packages means participating organisations get support that covers the full innovation journey: from idea to investment to implementation.

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Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.